“Well,” Kris joined the conversation. “We were able to make some concessions, since they are Keegan’s parents, and Kacey and Kieran’s grandparents. We definitely aren’t opening the village up to just any humans, but Keegan deserves to have his family here.” He glanced at Kendrick. “If they want to live here, that is.”
Kendrick was quiet for a minute, before he quietly asked, “Will it be the same as when Keegan moved here? Will everyone forget my parents existed? In the human realm, I mean?”
Oliver and Kris exchanged a look, and Merv took his wife’s hand. “I’m afraid so. It’s one of the ways we can protect thevillage. We just can’t have it getting out that we exist, you understand.”
“So I’m going to be alone,” Kendrick asked quietly. “I can’t talk about my family to anyone because to them, I’m what? An orphan?”
“You could move here too, Kendrick,” Keegan said quietly, and Kendrick shook his head.
“I have a job I love. An apartment. Friends. A life.”
“I did too, when I moved here.” Keegan reminded him.
“You were a barista at The Sweet Spot,” Kendrick stood up, and Keegan winced. “I’m a teacher! Not the same. And,” he looked over at me, his eyes sad. “You had Nik, and you were pregnant. I can’t move here without being mated or married to someone from the village, can I?”
Kris cleared his throat uncomfortably, glancing at me. “That is correct. We can only make so many concessions, I’m afraid. If you and Bal decide that’s what the future holds for you, then you would be able to live here. But the same rules would apply in the human realm. No one would remember you existed.”
The room was silent, no one knowing what to say. While I thought it was great that Diana and Merv were able to retire and move here, to be closer to their grandkids, I didn’t think they realized the impact of all that entailed and how it would affect Kendrick.
“Can you take me home now, Bal?” Kendrick whispered, his arms wrapped around his chest like he was cold. His eyes shimmered suspiciously in the low lit room and the glow of the fire. “I want to go home now.”
“Of course,” I stood, taking his cold hand in mine. “Anything you want.”
Twenty minutes later, Kendrick was packed and ready to go. He was steadfastly ignoring his phone, which was beeping about every two seconds. When mine started making the same noises,I glanced at it to see messages from Nik, Keegan, Pops, and Diana. Taking Kendrick’s lead, I ignored my phone as well.
If he wanted to leave, he should be able to leave.
Even if I didn’t want him to. Even if I wanted one more day with him. More than one more day.
He swiped at a tear, sniffling, and my heart shattered, but I wasn’t sure what I should do.
Should I gather him into my arms, the place he felt so right in, like he had been made to fit my parts perfectly? Did I act like I didn’t see him crying, and let him sort out his feelings on his own?
Did I tell him I wanted him to stay? That I wanted this fake romance of ours to be real? But if he didn’t feel the same way, would I lose the friendship we had built the last few years?
“I’m ready.” Kendrick’s voice sounded tight and shaky. He glanced around my bedroom, taking one last look to make sure he had all his things. Suitcase clasped firmly in his hand, he took a wobbly breath.
Taking the heavy bag from him, I wrapped my other arm around his waist tightly. He clung to me, his head falling to my shoulder, and I swore his chest heaved with a deep breath he took in. Was he smelling me?
“I…” I paused, not sure what I wanted, needed, to say.
He looked up at me, brown eyes glimmering, looking so sad, so heartbroken, so small, and all I wanted to do was wave my hand and make his world right again. To see his eyes sparkling with mischief, to see his sassy grin.
I needed to kiss him. One last time. Before I took him back to his world. Before we staged our “breakup” after the new year. Before we went back to just being friends.
How in the world would I ever be able to go back to the way things were before?
Nothing had been the same since the first time I had kissed him under that damn mistletoe. Nothing had been the same since I had buried myself deep inside him, during his heat.
Nothing was ever going to be the same again.
“Take me home, Bal,” he whispered, looking away, his hands gripping me just a bit tighter.
I should tell him how I felt. I should tell him everything had changed.
I was terrified he would tell me he didn’t feel the same.
“Please, Bal, I just need to go home and think.”
